In an interview last week with Piers Morgan, Benjamin Netanyahu noted that even with its flaws the U.S. has perhaps the greatest system of government in the world. He went on to add that the U.S. would get through this budget stalemate. He then shared a bit about the budget process in Israel.

Netanyahu said they always pass a budget. They always pass a budget because if they don’t they have forced elections. Watch the one-minute video (you’ll have to first tolerate a 30 second ad but it’s worth watching).

Shocker. Do your job (e.g. pass a budget) or you may loose your job. Yep. Simple. Parliamentary democracy...maybe better than we think? (Check out #13 on Ezra Klein's "13 Reasons Washington is Failing" in The Washington Post for more on this theory.

Whatever side you may be on in the shutdown showdown, it’s compelling to think about how Israel’s approach might break the ideological standoff that will most certainly be written as one of the most pathetic chapters in the history of these currently very dis-united states.

Sarah Agan is a regular contributor to Excellence in Government. She has spent the past 17 years working with clients across the federal government with a focus on helping individuals and organizations thrive.

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